DECEMBER 2019

building a safe, reliable NEW BRIDGE

Progress continues on I-74 River Bridge project
Huge strides have been made to build the new I-74 Mississippi River Bridge in the Quad Cities
between Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. From ice to rising river levels, working in the
river is challenging. Construction workers take crew boats each day to get to the work sites and
contractors rely on barges to deliver project equipment and materials such as cranes and concrete.
With extraordinary effort and patience, crews are working through all types of weather to make the
new bridge a reality.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is ensuring on project requirements, adjust completion

the delivery of a safe, reliable new bridge that
improves transportation for residents and visitors in
the Quad Cities.
The I-74 River Bridge is complex and we have
experienced challenges, but there is no question
regarding whether the bridge can be properly built.
As highlighted in recent media reports, discussions
between the Iowa Department of Transportation
and contractor have been focused on the
time and resources necessary to complete
the project. These types of discussions are not
uncommon in construction, and departments
of transportation often provide clarifications
deadlines, and consider financial modifications
if warranted. The Iowa Department of
Transportation carefully reviews any requests
for clarification or modifications submitted by the
contractor, and both parties are working together
to resolve issues within the scope of the contract.
Construction of the I-74 River Bridge continues to
progress while these contractual discussions take
place.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is
confident in the ability of the bridge to be built,
the capability of the contractor to perform the
work, and the safety and performance of the
completed structure.
 ENSURING CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTABILITY
It is standard for major construction agreements
to contain provisions holding contractors
accountable for delays attributed to the
contractor. There is a specific contract provision
for the I-74 River Bridge project that allows the
Iowa Department of Transportation to address
delays through assessing liquidated damages,
which is a monetary penalty for each day past the
determined completion date. However, because
there are items that are still being discussed that
may affect the completion date, it’s premature to
assess whether liquidated damages may be due.

safety is TOP priority

SAFETY OF THE STRUCTURE IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE
I-74 RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT TEAM.

As part of the project’s commitment to safety, there is inspection staff on-site

to monitor construction every day. Established procedures are also in place to
ensure quality of the structure and that each element meets design requirements.
Inspectors check everything, including testing concrete strength, fabrication and
installation of the arch segments, tensioning of the bolts, quality of the welding, and
review surveying results.

PROGRESS BREAKDOWN
River Bridge
• Progress on the arch for the Iowa-bound bridge is continuing.
GOAL IN SIGHT
From the interstate on the Iowa
A total of thirty arch ribs and four struts will be installed to
form the basket-handle arch. and Illinois sides to the River
• Work is continuing to form the deck (roadway) for the new
Iowa-bound bridge. Bridge itself, the I-74 river bridge
• All Iowa-bound bridge piers are complete and workers are project is moving forward.
making steady progress on the Illinois-bound bridge piers.
There have been adjustments

Bettendorf Iowa
• The new Iowa-bound I-74 viaduct as well as the ramps are
to the project timeline due to a
variety of factors, but construction
crews are continuing to work as
nearly complete.
• The new Iowa-bound I-74 on-ramp at Grant Street/U.S. 67 was swiftly as possible to build a safe,
completed and opened to traffic..
sound and reliable transportation
system.

moline illinois
Ultimately, those efforts will
result in improved mobility and

• Iowa-bound I-74 lanes, overpasses, and ramps are nearly

safety for motorists and an iconic
complete. bridge structure that will stand
• The new 6th Avenue ramp was completed and opened to traffic.
• The newly paved Iowa-bound I-74 lanes are scheduled to be
tall in serving the Quad Cities for
completed and opened to traffic by the end of 2019. generations to come.

I74RiverBridge.com